The Department of Plant
and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
invites applications for a time unlimited position as Associate Professor within
the area of "Evolutionary and
Applied Ecology of Insect-Microorganism Interactions”.

Microorganisms
represent great possibilities as biological control agents against insect
pests, but they also pose a current and future challenge
as disease causing agents for insects in managed and
natural terrestrial ecosystems, and in insect production systems. The mission of PLEN "From the bench to the
field" seeks to stimulate synergies between fundamental and applied
research, which require integrative approaches to contribute to the development of sustainable use of natural resources.

Basic
knowledge of how interactions
between and within species evolve is indispensable for
understanding fundamental and applied questions of insect-microorganism interactions. The successful
applicant is expected to conduct interdisciplinary research that bridges
fundamental organismal science and genomics, aiming at studying insect and
pathogenic fungal dynamics and disease emergence in managed and natural
ecosystems. Molecular biological
approaches (including transcriptomics and genomics), applied bioinformatics,
and bioassays of infectivity, behavior, insect-immunity, and enzymatic activity
will complement these studies. Because of the
interdisciplinarity, the associate professor will be expected to engage in
cross-departmental collaborations within research and teaching.

Qualifications in the
following areas are required:

Capacity to improve the basic understanding of mutualistic and pathogenic
interactions from a molecular perspective.

Capacity
to combine basic scientific discoveries with applied research (for example,
biological control and invasive species), in order to improve agricultural sustainability.

Profound experience with planning and conducting field
sampling and laboratory experiments with insects and microorganisms, including
data analyses.

Management of research projects and successful
track-record of grant applications.

Applicants are
required to have university level teaching experience, documented teaching
competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon own teaching practice
and portfolio.

Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher
training program for assistant professors is required.

Duties cover the
applicant’s own research, including development of the research area,
assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as
supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The successful
applicant must also teach and supervise BSc and MSc
students, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfill other
tasks requested by the Department, such as involvement in maintaining computational server
resources. BSc and MSc level teaching areas cover, but are not
limited to, animal and microorganism diversity (including teaching in
species-knowledge during excursions and exercises), basic and applied biology
and ecology, biodiversity and applied bioinformatics.

Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, original
scientific production at an international level, including contributions to
developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching
qualifications. Management and out-reach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external
funding will also be considered.

The Section for
Organismal Biology focuses on fundamental and applied studies of plants,
animals (both invertebrates and vertebrates) and microorganisms (mainly fungi) in
terrestrial systems managed by humans. The section contains advanced
microbiology and molecular laboratories as well as plant-growth and
insect-rearing facilities.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the
position can be made to Associate Professor Lene Sigsgaard, head of section,
e-mail les@plen.ku.dk or tel. +45 35332674, or Professor Svend
Christensen, head of department, e-mail svc@plen.ku.dk or tel. +45 51489421.

The position is
open from 1 October 2018 or as soon as
possible thereafter.

The
University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity
of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates
regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment

The position is
covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of
appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of
Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics
in the State.

Commencing salary
is currently up to DKK 461.868 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 78.979)

Negotiation for
salary supplement is possible.

The application
including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by
clicking APPLY NOW below.